August 20, 2013

Minor League Update

Games of Monday, August 19

by Zach Mortimer

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Pitching Prospect of the Day: Brad Allen, RHP, Diamondbacks (Low-A South Bend): 4.1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 10 K. In tonight’s edition of the non-prospect who shoved, I feature Brad Allen. Allen is a right-handed pitcher out of Arkansas State, and is pitching in Low-A at the age of 24. He had it all working tonight, racking up 10 strikeouts in relief.

Position Prospect of the Day: Joc Pederson, CF, Dodgers (Double-A Chattanooga): 2-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI. Joc makes it back on the list, and the story won’t change on my end. I believe in Pederson as an everyday player, and the makeup may give him a chance to overachieve.

Other notable prospect performances on August 19:

“The Good”

• Arismendy Alcantara, 2B, Cubs (Double-A Tennessee): 2-5, 2B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 K. Alcantara has moved over to second base defensively, and most scouts believe that’s where he will ultimately land. He offers major-league bat speed with the potential for solid-average power. Alcantara is a plus runner and should add value with his speed. The Cubs future infield situation is crowded, but I believe he finds an everyday spot in Wrigley at some point; .232/.313/.348 with 8 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR in last 112 at-bats.
• Mark Appel, RHP, Astros (Low-A Quad Cities): 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K. Appel offers a fastball that works in the upper 90s, a plus-plus slider with depth, and a potential plus changeup. He also has crisp, repeatable mechanics and has really taken many steps forward after not signing in 2013 and returning to Stanford to be picked no. 1 overall by the Astros.
• Adam Conley, LHP, Marlins (Double-A Jacksonville): 6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K. Conley offers a plus fastball that will work in the low 90s with life and a potential solid-average changeup; he is still working to develop a consistent curveball. Conley’s stuff plays up because of deception in the delivery, and he has put himself on the radar a true prospect after a very solid 2013 season; 122.0 IP, 113 H, 45 ER, 33 BB, 116 K in 23 starts.
• Kevin Gausman, RHP, Orioles (Triple-A Norfolk): 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K. Kevin, the start you had in Bowie in April was magical. I know everyone doesn’t understand what is wrong with you since you did not dominate at the big-league level right away like Jose Fernandez, but I still believe in you. Gausman offers a true plus-plus fastball that has the potential to touch elite velocity, a potential plus-plus changeup, and a potential solid-average slider. The mechanics need some minor tweaks, but I’m still on the ship that says Gausman has a top-of-the-rotation future.
• Erik Johnson, RHP, White Sox (Triple-A Charlotte): 8.0 IP, 7 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K. The lone soldier in the White Sox system, Johnson has good stuff and should be able to stick as a starter. He offers a plus fastball, a potential plus slider, an average curveball, and an adequate changeup. Johnson profiles best as a back-end starter; 45.1 IP, 35 H, 8 ER, 13 BB, 44 K in eight starts.
• Nick Kingham , RHP, Pirates (Double-A Altoona): 5.0 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K. Kingham has a fastball that works in the low 90s but can reach back for more when needed. He complements the heater with an easy plus curveball, and a developing changeup with average potential. Kingham has an ideal frame and profiles best as a middle-of-the-rotation starter.
• Jake Odorizzi, RHP, Rays (Triple-A Durham): 7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K. Odorizzi seems to be the odd man out and would be pitching in the big leagues in just about any other organization. He offers a fastball that works in the low 90s, a potential solid-average curveball, an average slider, and an average changeup. He also has a feel for pitching and plenty of athleticism, which allows him to repeat his delivery. He does not have one pitch that blows you away, but he should be a very solid back-of-the-rotation arm.
• Chris Reed, LHP, Dodgers (Double-A Chattanooga): 7.0 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K. Reed offers a fastball that can touch 96 from the left side and a potential plus slider. The changeup is behind the other two offerings and a fringy command profile may push him to the bullpen long term.

“The Bad”

• Chris Beck, RHP, White Sox (Double-A Birmingham): 5.0 IP, 11 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 3 K. I’ve heard whispers about Beck that really make me wonder if he is going to be more than a middle-relief guy.
• Miguel Sano, 3B, Twins (Double-A New Britain): 0-4, 2 K. Miguel, I’m coming to see you Thursday.
• Nelfi Zapata, 1B, Mets (Low-A Savannah): 0-3, 3 K. The name really intrigued me.

“The Ugly”

• Sam Selman, LHP, Royals (High-A Wilmington): 2.2 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 5 BB, 2 K. I was at Selman’s start tonight. He does not have good command, and I believe everyone understands that point now. However, I never realized how slowly he worked. After an hour, I looked up and we were only through two innings.

Zach Mortimer is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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